Poem: Hope and Peace

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Hope and Peace
By the students of AAS 116

The following poem was written by students in AAS 116 as part of an anaphora writing exercise led by poet-filmmaker-activist Irene Soriano. Under Irene's guidance, students learned how to use poetry to express their feelings and ideas and to use poetry as a vehicle for educating and mobilizing others. For more information about creating an anaphora exercise for your class or community group and using poetry as an organizing tool for peace and justice, please contact Irene Soriano (isoriano@ucla.edu).

We find hope in the struggle for justice,
engaging in dialogue
We find hope in the eyes of children who are eager for love
We find hope if there is no war
We find hope in opportunities to resist our dehumanization
We find hope in tomorrow's community empowerment
We find hope in the education of our people
We find hope in the advancement of our community
We find hope in the emergence of truth,
the healing of our hearts
We find hope in humanity...We find hope when you choose to listen.

When I close my eyes, peace comes to mind.
When I close my eyes, I think of innocence and youth playing
in the sandbox together.
When I close my eyes, I feel the warm sunlight and cool breeze on my face
and hear the sound of the children laughing.
When I close my eyes, I see the intense need of peace to exist in the
world outside myself.